Shock absorbing washer for skate wheel mount

ABSTRACT

The invention is a shock absorbing system for an in-line skate comprising a washer wherein the washer is composed of a rigid center for insertion of wheel axles surrounded by a resilient material to provide shock absorption especially while performing jumps and tricks. The washer can be incorporated into the skate at the time of manufacture or may be inserted as a post-market modification.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to single track orin-line roller skates, and is particularly concerned with a shockabsorbing washer for wheel mounts for in-line skates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In-line skates generally have four or five wheels arranged oneafter the other in a single line in the running direction. The wheelsare rotatably mounted on a frame or chassis, and the frame is connectedwith the sole of the shoe or may be integrated into the sole of theshoe. An example of a skate of this type is described in my U.S. Pat.No. 6,029,983. Other examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,278of Wittman and 5,806,860 of Conte.

[0003] Typically, the frame of an in-line skate includes a pair ofplates between which the wheels are rotatably mounted. The wheels aremade of hard rubber and are mounted on rigid axle bolts that attach tothe rigid frame in which hard plastic washers are seated. Due to therigid nature of the skate, impacts are transferred through the skate tothe joints of the skater. This is especially the case when tricks areperformed such that the skater is landing from a jump onto one or bothfeet.

[0004] A number of shock absorbing apparatuses have been developed todecrease impact and increase skate stability. For example, Oyen (U.S.Pat. No. 5,951,027) teaches the use of springs or other resilientmaterials to allow the wheels of the skate to move independently in adirection perpendicular to the line of the center of the wheels therebydecreasing impact. Lund (U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,153) teaches the mountingto the frame of the skate one end of an arm that can swing in a freelyrotating arc with the other end of the arm attached to the hub of thewheel. The arm is supported by a spring that pushes the arm away fromthe skate frame while providing shock absorption. Similarly, Syrkos(U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,608) and Chang (U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,727) also teachshock absorbing systems for individual wheels incorporating springs.Burns (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,543 and 6,039,329), Gatel (U.S. Pat. No.5,979,916) and Kao (U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,619) all teach suspensionmechanisms in which a single suspension unit is between the shoe andwheel frame portion of the skate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a new shock absorbingsystem for in-line skates.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an in-lineroller skate is provided, which comprises a shoe, a frame for attachmentto the underside of a shoe, the frame having a pair of spaced, parallelsidewalls, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted in a line between thesidewalls, the sidewalls each having openings therethrough for theinsertion of washers, with the openings being surrounded by an incutportion around the periphery of the opening, wherein the axles supportthe wheels with washers inserted into the openings, the washers having arigid metal or plastic center through which the axle is inserted, and anouter member composed of a resilient material around the rigid center toprovide shock absorbance.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer member has an outer surfaceof polygonal shape and is about the same thickness as the downwardlydirected plates. The rigid metal center extends through a hole in theouter member and has through bore appropriately sized to receive arollerblade axle. One face of the washer has a circular end flange thatis larger than the remainder of the outer member for engagement againstan inner face of a respective sidewall. This end flange prevents thewasher from being pushed through the openings in the sidewalls. Thealuminum or plastic lining or inner member is sufficiently rigid tosupport the axle. However, pressure applied to the aluminum lining istransferred to the rubber portion of the washer providing shockabsorption rather than being transported through the skate to thewearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention will be better understood from thefollowing detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical skate boot with one wheelremoved for convenience;

[0010]FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG.1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1,showing the shock absorbing washer installation;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shock absorbing washer;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a side view of the washer;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a front view of the washer with an extended octagon bossportion; and

[0015]FIG. 7 is a side view of the washer with the extended octagon bossportion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, an in-lineroller skate 10 is provided, which comprises a shoe 16, a frame 12 forattachment to the underside of a shoe 14, the frame 12 having a pair ofspaced, parallel sidewalls 18 and 20, a plurality of wheels 22 rotatablymounted in a line between the sidewalls, the sidewalls each havingopenings 24 therethrough for the insertion of washers 26, with theopenings being surrounded by an incut portion 28 around the periphery ofthe opening. Axles 30 are inserted through the washers 26 to rotatablysupport the wheels 22. Each axle 30 has a head 31 at one end, and isthreadably secured to axle bolt 50 at the opposite end to secure thewashers and axle between the side walls 18 and 20. Head 31 seats inrecess or cut-out portion 28 on one side wall, while the head of bolt 50seats in portion 28 of the opposite side wall.

[0017] Each washer 26 is formed in two parts comprising an outer member36 of resilient material for sealing in a respective opening 24, themember 36 having a through bore 37, and a central tube or liner 34 ofrigid material mounted in through bore 37. The tube 34 suitably has aslightly larger diameter than bore 37, such that it will force the bore37 to expand slightly when it is inserted, so that the tube is grippedin the bore. Alternatively, it may be secured in position by a suitableadhesive. The resilient material of member 36 surrounding the metalcenter will provide shock absorbance. A resilient material is defined asa flexible material with shape memory characteristics that deforms undermoderate amounts of pressure, such as those exerted by landing on thewheels of an in-line skate, and retains or resumes its shape under smallamounts of pressure, such as those generated by standing on the wheelsof an in-line skate. Resilient materials include, but are not limitedto, a variety of natural and synthetic rubbers. Such materials would bewell known to those skilled in the art.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer member 36 comprises agenerally octagonal boss portion with alternating long and short sides38, 40 and a flat, circular end flange 32 which is of larger dimensionsthan the octagonal portion. The through bore 42 of central tube 34 isappropriately sized to receive the rollerblade axle 30. The washer 26 isinserted through an opening 24 from the inside, such that face 44 of thecircular flange 32 abuts against the inner surface of the respectiveside wall as indicated in FIG. 3. This large circular flange preventsthe washer from being pushed through the openings in the sidewalls.

[0019] The inner rigid tube 34 prevents the resilient member 36 frombeing compressed when the axle bolts 50 are tightened. The rigid centeris composed of any of a number of materials including, but not limitedto metal, such as aluminum, or hard plastic. The center is sufficientlyrigid to support the axle. However, pressure applied to the aluminumlining is transferred to the resilient material of the washer providingshock absorption rather than being transported through the skate to thewearer.

[0020] In a second embodiment, the washer comprises an irregularlyshaped polygonal boss portion, called an extended octagon, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, and a flat, circular end flange which is of a largerdimension in some directions than the extended octagon boss portion 52.The extended octagon shape is a combination of the shape of the washerof the above embodiment with a rectangular extension on one side thatmay be wider than a single face of the octagon. The washer is insertedthrough the frame with the square end of the boss portion pointingupwards towards the skate. The additional resilient material providesadditional shock absorbance. The through bore 54 of central tube 56 isappropriately sized to receive the rollerblade axle 30. The washer 58 isinserted through an opening 24, appropriately shaped to receive thewasher, from the inside, such that the face 60 of the circular flange 62abuts against the inner surface of the respective side wall as indicatedin FIG. 3. This large circular flange prevents the washer from beingpushed through the opening.

[0021] As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the through bore 37 in resilientmember 36 is eccentrically positioned relative to a central axis ofwasher 26. This will allow the wheel position to be adjusted. Althoughthe member 36 comprises circular end flange 32 and a boss of generallyoctagonal external shape in the illustrated embodiment, the boss may beof different external shapes in other embodiments, such as square,hexagonal, or other flat sided shapes, or may be of circular or ovalshape.

[0022] An advantage of the washer of the instant invention is that itcan be incorporated into the skates at the time of manufacture or it canreadily be integrated into or replaced in the skate post manufacture.This is not possible with any of the other shock absorption mechanismspreviously described. Prior washers have been made of rigid plastics,similar to those used for sidewalls and have no shock absorptionproperties being made of entirely rigid materials. The integration of arigid tube into a through bore in an otherwise resilient member willprevent the resilient material from being deformed or squashed when theaxle bolt is tightened. At the same time, the resilient washers willprovide smooth skating and shock absorption when jumping.

[0023] Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has beendescribed above by way of example only, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosedembodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, which isdefined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A shock absorbing washer for an in-line skate wheel mountcomprising: a first member composed of a resilient material and havingopposite end faces and a through bore extending between the end faces,the first member being of predetermined external dimensions along atleast part of it's length for fitting into a skate frame wheel mountopening; and a second member comprising a tube of rigid material securedin said through bore and extending between said end faces, the tubehaving a bore for fitting over a wheel axle.
 2. The washer of claim 1,wherein the resilient material is rubber.
 3. The washer of claim 1,wherein the rigid material is selected from the group consisting ofmetal and plastic.
 4. The washer of claim 3, wherein the metal isaluminum.
 5. The washer of claim 1, wherein the first member has acentral axis and the through bore in the first member is eccentricallypositioned relative to the central axis.
 6. The washer as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first member has an end flange at one end and aboss portion of smaller outer dimensions than the end flange projectingfrom said end flange, the boss portion being adapted for seating in askate frame wheel mount opening with said end flange seated against anadjacent surface of said frame.
 7. The washer as claimed in claim 6,wherein said boss portion has an outer surface of polygonal shape. 8.The washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shape is substantiallysquare.
 9. The washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shape issubstantially octagonal and has sides which are of alternately longerand shorter length.
 10. The washer as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidshape is substantially an extended octagon.
 11. An in-line skatecomprising: a frame for attachment to the underside of a shoe, the framehaving a pair of spaced parallel side walls, each side wall having aseries of spaced, wheel mount openings aligned with correspondingopenings in the other side wall; a series of wheels rotatably mountedbetween the side walls, each wheel having a central axle opening alignedwith a respective pair of aligned wheel mount openings; an axleextending through each wheel axle opening for rotatably mounting thewheel, the axle having opposite ends extending into the respectivealigned wheel mount openings on opposite sides of the wheel; a washermounted in each wheel mount opening having a through bore into which arespective axle end extends; and axle bolt means securing each wheelaxle in the respective aligned washer through bores; each washercomprising a first member composed of a resilient material and havingopposite end faces and a through hole extending between the end faces,the first member being of predetermined external dimensions for fittinginto said respective wheel mount opening, and a second member comprisinga tubular member of rigid material secured in and extending through saidhole, the tubular member engaging over the respective axle end anddefining said through bore.
 12. The in-line skate of claim 11, whereinthe resilient material is rubber.
 13. The in-line skate of claim 11,wherein the rigid material is selected from the group consisting ofmetal and plastic.
 14. The in-line skate of claim 13, wherein the metalis aluminum.